꧁꧂

I slam my fist on the meeting room table, alarming everyone.

It's been three days already and there's been absolutely no result or leads. All we could work with is the tracker on her ring but Lila's captives have already disabled it.

We made contact for a brief moment just yesterday until her captives found out about us communicating.

"All we know is that she's still in Italy. Just don't have a clear idea of where exactly." Alejandro explains nervously.

"Lance." I state coldly. "How have the speakers been? Has Lila responded?"

Lance gives me a sad smile, "No, I think s-she's unconscious s-still. Or they d-destroyed that t-too." He stutters nervously. Something he does whenever he's too anxious.

Damon places a hand on his and sends me a look telling me to calm down.

I shake my head and leave the meeting room.

I need to calm down before I destroy everything here to find her.

Before I can even reach the meeting room door exit, Damon calls me over.

I freeze when I hear a ringtone come in.

I rush back over to Lance's side and he accepts the call.

"Who is this?" Damon asks.

"We have her." A distorted voice comes through the speakers.

"What the hell do you want?" I sneer.

Three men decked out in black clothing come into view.

"Ne hai scelto uno carino." The man up front says.

"Non farmi ripetere."

The man puts up both his hands in a surrendering pose, but even with the mask on I could tell he was smirking.

He's enjoying this.

"Who do you work for?" Nathalia comes into view this time.

"People who want her and want you all dead."

"Millas." Lance whispers.

All three men nod, "Theyll make a deal with you guys tomorrow. 10pm at the Millas empire."

"Show me her."

The camera turns and shows Lila's unconscious body laying in a corner of the concrete room. Her legs and arms were bound by ropes and her mouth is covered with a handkerchief. I could just make out the bruises leaking from her shirt and forehead. Along with a deep slash across her cheek.

"Fucking hurt her again." I say with a dark chuckle.

Everyone around me freezes at my anger and tone.

"We had-"

" I've already got plenty of ways to deal with your pathetic lives." I snarl at them through the screen.

All three men visibly gulp before quickly turning the call off.

"We'll find her." Mom says as she places a hand on my shoulder.

I shake my head in frustration before fully storming out of the room.

I couldn't save her again.

I walk back into my office only to see Breece there.

"Why the fuck are you in my room?" My voice booms with a tone of threat to it.

She freezes, "I figured you would like to take a break."

She takes small steps toward me.

Once she's in front of me I grab her by the shoulder harshly and shove her out the door.

"You're lucky your a woman or else I would've pummeled you to death."

Her eye widen.

"Get the fuck out of my empire. I don't give a fuck about your parents alliance anymore." I slam and lock the door behind me.

I walk over to the bed and lean against the headboard taking in Lila's scent.

Her whole being was the only reason I hadn't gone on a fucking killing spree to find her. She's my entire conscious at this point. I never thought I'll crave someone so much as I crave Lila.

If I could bottle up her laughter, I would. I would keep it with me forever and listen to it for the rest of my life.

"Enzo, do you need help?" Lila's voice floods into our bathroom.

I turn and give her a nod.

She walks over to me and pulls herself onto the bathroom counter so that she could reach my tie easier.

Her legs part so that I can come closer to her as she places her hands onto my shoulder.

I watch her as she focuses on my tie and fixing it. I admire her features.

The way her nose scrunches and eyebrows furrow together whenever she was concentrating on something. Her lips part slightly.

It was only when you were up close to her did you notice the other small features on her face like the faded dimples and her long dark lashes.

Her hazel eyes would turn even lighter in brown when the light shone onto her.

She's breathtaking.

"Enzo," She deadpans cutely as she glances up at me.

I give her a blank look.

"Stop staring at me, it makes me shy." She whispers the last part so softly.

I encircle my arms around her petite frame and drawl her close to me. Her head rests naturally on my chest.

"Non riesco a staccare gli occhi da te piccola."

She tilts her head up to look at me in the eyes. I cup a side of her face and brush my thumb along her slightly pink cheek.

"You should teach me italian." She suggests.

I hum in response, "But I don't want to."

"Why?" She pouts.

"Because you don't want to know what I say to you half the time bambina." I whisper huskily into her ear while I keep contact with her pouted pink lips.

Her cheeks turn into a deep shade of crimson red as she darts her eyes elsewhere.

I can't help but let out a chuckle at her flustered state.

"What if he tried to get to me again?" She asks suddenly serious.

"He won't." I deadpan.

"But what if-"

"He. Wont." I grit out as I tighten my grip around her possessively.

"I'll protect you with my life. It's always you. I'll always put you before all else amore. Trust me." I say soothingly.

"I always trust you Enzo."

I lied.

I couldn't keep my end of the promise.

I couldn't protect her.

He got to her.

She's not here in my arms.

She's not here.

꧁꧂